Window Blind Assembly

ABSTRACT

A blind assembly includes a head box, an axle, a lift lock, a blind, a tube set, a rod and an effort-saving unit. The axle is located in the head box. The lift lock is provided on the head box. The blind includes a bottom rail and at least one rope. The rope is inserted through the lift lock and tied to the bottom rail at an end. The tube set is connected to the head box. The rope is located in the tube set. The rod is inserted in the tube set. The effort-saving unit for connecting the rope to the rod so that the bottom rail is lifted as the rod is pulled.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a window covering and, moreparticularly, to a window blind assembly.

2. Related Prior Art

There are various window coverings for keeping sun light and/or noiseoutside rooms, keeping privacy in the rooms and/or decorating the rooms.Window coverings can be classified into two types, i.e., curtains thatare movable horizontally and blinds that are movable vertically. Theblinds include roman blinds, pleated blinds and venetian blinds.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a conventional blind assemblyincluding a blind 10 and a head box 16. The head box 16 is attached to awall, above a window. An axle 18 is inserted in the head box 16. Tworollers 14 are provided on the axle 18. A handle 19 is located outsidethe head box 16. The handle 19 is connected to the axle 18 through ajoint 17. With the joint 17, a user can rotate the axle 18 by turningthe handle 19.

The blind 10 is a venetian blind as shown. The blind 10 may however be aroman blind or a pleated blind. The blind 10 includes slats 11, a bottomrail 15, a first rope 12, a second rope 12, a first group of ropes 13and a second group of ropes 13. Each of the ropes 12 is provided in theform of a loop including an upper point tied to a related one of therollers 14, a lower point located beneath the bottom rail 15, and twosubstantially vertical sections between the upper and lower pointsthereof. In the first group, each of the ropes 13 is in the form of aloop including a point tied to one of the vertical section of the firstrope 12 and an opposite point tied to the other vertical section of thefirst rope 12. In the second group, each of the ropes 13 is in the formof a loop including a point tied to one of the vertical section of thesecond rope 12 and an opposite point tied to the other vertical sectionof the second rope 12. Each of the slats 11 is inserted in the loopformed by a related one of the ropes 13 in the first group and the loopformed by a related one of the ropes 13 in the second group.

As discussed above, the slats 11 are supported on the ropes 13. Theropes 13 are tied to the ropes 12. The ropes 12 are tied to the rollers14. The rollers 14 are supported on the axle 18. The axle 18 issupported by the head box 16. Furthermore, the axle 18 is connected tothe handle 19 through the joint 17. By turning the handle 19, the usercan rotate the axle 18 and the rollers 14 to lift one of the ropes 12and lower the other rope 12, thus tilting the ropes 13 and the slats 11.

A rope 20 includes two sections inserted through the slats 11 and tiedto the bottom rail 15. The sections of the rope 20 are inserted througha lift lock 21 located in the head box 16. The sections of the rope 20can be pulled down to lift the bottom rail 15 and the slats 11, oneafter another. The sections of the rope 20 can be biased to a directionrelative to the lift lock 21 so that the former are locked by thelatter, i.e., the bottom rail 15 and the slats 11 are kept in a liftedposition. The sections of the rope 20 can be biased to an oppositedirection relative to the lift lock 21 so that the former are releasedfrom the latter, thus allowing the bottom rail 15 and the slats 11 to belowered because of weight.

The rope 20 is long and therefore visible. The rope 20 often attractskids' attention. Kids could not help but play with the rope 20 and mightget strangled by the rope 20, and this is not desirable.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at leastalleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a safeblind assembly.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the blind assembly includes a headbox, an axle, a lift lock, a blind, a tube set, a rod and aneffort-saving unit. The axle is located in the head box. The lift lockis provided on the head box. The blind includes a bottom rail and atleast one rope. The rope is inserted through the lift lock and tied tothe bottom rail at an end. The tube set is connected to the head box.The rope is located in the tube set. The rod is inserted in the tubeset. The effort-saving unit for connecting the rope to the rod so thatthe bottom rail is lifted as the rod is pulled.

In an aspect, the tube set includes a first tube connected to the headbox and a second tube connected to the first tube. The rod extendsbeyond the second tube.

In another aspect, the effort-saving unit is located in the second tube.

In another aspect, the blind assembly further includes a cap fit in anend of the second tube and formed with an aperture through which the rodis inserted, thus avoid pivoting of the rod in the second tube.

In another aspect, the second tube includes a first shell and a secondshell joined to the first shell so that the effort-saving unit islocated in the second tube.

In another aspect, the first shell includes two ribs formed on anexternal side, wherein the second shell includes two grooves defined inan internal side for receiving the ribs, thus joining together the firstand second shells.

In another aspect, each of the first and second shells includes a hookformed thereon. The first tube includes two slots defined therein forreceiving the hooks of the first and second shells, thus joiningtogether the first and second tubes.

In another aspect, each of the first and second shells includes a lipformed thereon. The lips of the first and second shells together form anannular structure for easy insertion into the first tube.

In another aspect, the effort-saving unit includes a frame movablylocated in the second tube, upper and lower movable pulleys supported onthe frame, and a belt sequentially wound on the lower movable pulley,and tied to the second tube at an end and tied to the rod at anotherend. The rope is wound on the upper movable pulley and tied to the headbox at another end.

In another aspect, the effort-saving unit includes a stationary pulleysecured to the second tube, wherein the belt is further wound on thestationary pulley.

In another aspect, the effort-saving unit includes another stationarypulley secured to the second tube. The belt is sequentially wound on thestationary pulleys and the lower movable pulley.

In another aspect, the blind assembly further includes a grip and a lockunit. The rod is inserted through the grip. The lock unit is movablebetween a locking position and a releasing position. In the lockingposition, the lock unit locks the grip to the rod. In the releasingposition, the lock unit releases the grip from the rod.

In another aspect, the lock unit includes a button and a lock. Thebutton is provided on the grip. The lock includes a first sectionpivotally connected to the grip and a second section abutted against thebutton. Thus, the lock is moved to the releasing position from thelocking position as the button is pushed.

In an alternative aspect, the lock unit includes only a lock. The lockincludes a first section pivotally connected to the grip and a secondsection inserted through the grip. Thus, the lock is moved to thereleasing position from the locking position as the second section ofthe lock is pushed.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention willbe apparent from the following description referring to the attacheddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration ofthree embodiments versus the prior art referring to the drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional venetian blind assembly;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partial, perspective view of the conventionalvenetian blind assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial, perspective view of a venetian blind assembly inaccordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, partial, perspective view of the venetian blindassembly shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partial, perspective view of the venetian blindassembly shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a device for concealing and pulling a ropeoperable to expand and shrink a venetian blind of the venetian blindassembly shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a partial, cross-sectional view of the rope concealing andpulling device shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, partial, cross-sectional view of the ropeconcealing and pulling device in another position than shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, partial, cross-sectional view of the ropeconcealing and pulling device in another position than shown in FIG. 8;and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial, cross-sectional view of a ropeconcealing and pulling device in accordance with the second embodimentof the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial, cross-sectional view of a ropeconcealing and pulling device in accordance with the third embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 3 through 9, there is shown a blind assembly inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The blindassembly of the present invention includes substantially all of theelements of the conventional blind assembly addressed in the RELATEDPRIOR ART and a device for concealing and pulling the rope 20. TheRelated Prior Art is incorporated in this DETAILED DESCRIPTION OFEMBODIMENTS. Hence, the elements that are common to the conventionalblind assembly and the blind assembly of the present invention will notbe described again for the briefness and clarity of the specification.

The rope concealing and pulling device includes a connective unit, atube set 40, an effort-saving unit 60, a grip 70 and a lock unit 80. Theconnective unit includes a bracket 30, a connector 31 and two hangers 32and 33. The bracket 30 is made of a strip of metal for engagement withthe head box 16. The hangers 32 and 33 are connected to the bracket 30.The sections of the rope 20 that are located outside the head box 16through the lift lock 21 are tied to the first hanger 32. The connector31 includes a hook extending from an upper section and two bosses 34transversely extending from a lower section. The hook of the connector31 is used to hook the second hanger 33. The use of the bosses 34 willbe described later.

The tube set 40 includes a first tube 41 and a second tube 50. The firsttube 41 includes two opposite apertures 42 defined therein near an upperend and two slots 43 defined therein near a lower end.

The second tube 50 consists of two shells 51 and 52. Each of the shells51 and 52 includes two horizontal edges, two vertical edges, a lip 53extending from the first horizontal edge, and a hook 54 formed thereonnear the lip 53. The first shell 51 further includes two ribs 58 formedon an external side near the vertical edges and three sockets formed onan internal side. The second shell 52 further includes two grooves 59defined in an internal side near the vertical edges. The second shell 52further includes upper, lower and middle pins 55 formed on the internalside. The second shell 52 further includes two upper hooks 56 and twolower hooks 56 formed on the internal side near the upper pin 55 and thelower pin 55, respectively. Each of the pins 55 is formed with a reducedtip.

The effort-saving unit 60 includes upper and lower stationary pulleys61, two restraining elements 57, a movable gear and a belt or cord 62.Each of the restraining elements 57 includes a middle section and twolateral sections transversely extending from the middle section. Agroove is defined in each of the lateral sections of each of therestraining elements 57. The movable gear includes upper and lowermovable pulleys 65 supported on a movable H-shaped frame 66. The belt 62is formed with two ends 63 and 64.

The grip 70 includes an enlarged upper section 71, two opposite slots 72and 73 defined in the enlarged upper section 71, a cavity 74 defined inan internal side, and a tunnel 75 longitudinally defined therein. Theinternal diameter of the enlarged upper section 71 of the grip 70 ismarginally larger than the external diameter of the second tube 50.

The lock unit 80 includes a lock 81 and a button 85. The lock 81 is abent element including two sections 82 and 86. The first section 82 ofthe lock 81 includes a reduced tip formed thereon and an aperture 83defined therein. The button 85 is formed with an enlarged end 87.

In assembly, the bosses 34 are inserted in the apertures 42, thusconnecting the connector 31 to the first tube 41. The ribs 58 areinserted in the grooves 59, thus joining together the first shell 51 andthe second shell 52, thus forming the second tube 50. The lips 53together form a tubular element that is inserted in the first tube 41and the hooks 54 are inserted in the slots 43, thus connecting thesecond tube 50 to the first tube 41.

The sections of the rope 20, which are located outside the head box 16,are wound on the upper movable pulley 65. The upper stationary pulley 61is supported on the upper pin 55 while the lower stationary pulley 61 issupported on the lower pin 55. The first end 63 of the belt 62 is tiedto the middle pin 55. The belt 62 is wound on the upper and lowerstationary pulleys 61 and the lower movable pulley 65, sequentially. Thesecond end 64 of the belt 62 is inserted through an aperture 45 definedin a rod 44 near an upper end and tied to the upper end of the rod 44.

The reduced tip of the upper pin 55 is inserted through an aperturedefined in the middle section of the upper restraining element 57 whilethe upper hooks 56 are inserted through the grooves defined in thelateral sections of the upper restraining element 57 and engaged withthe middle section of the upper restraining element 57. The reduced tipof the lower pin 55 is inserted through an aperture defined in themiddle section of the lower restraining element 57. The lower hooks 56are inserted through the grooves defined in the lateral sections of thelower restraining element 57 and engaged with the middle section of thelower restraining element 57. The reduced tips of the pins 55 areinserted in the sockets. Thus, the belt 62 is restrained on the upperand lower stationary pulleys 61.

The reduced tip of the first section 82 of the lock 81 is insertedthrough the slot 73. Thus, the lock 81 can be pivoted between a lockingposition and a releasing position. The rod 44 is inserted through theaperture 83 and a compression spring 84 compressed between the firstsection 82 of the lock 81 and the internal side of the grip 70. An endof the compression spring 84 is inserted in the cavity 74. The lock 81is biased to the locking position by the compression spring 84. Theenlarged end 87 of the button 85 is in contact with the second section86 of the lock 81. An opposite end of the button 85 is located outsidethe grip 70.

The rod 44 is further inserted through the tunnel 75. A screw 46 isdriven into a lower end of the rod 44 through a washer 47. Thus, thegrip 70 is retained on the rod 44.

Referring to FIG. 7, the lock 81 is retained in the locking position bythe compression spring 84. As the lock 81 is in the locking position,the edge of the aperture 83 is abutted against the rod 44 so that thegrip 70 is locked to the rod 44.

Referring to FIG. 8, the grip 70 is lowered, and so is the rod 44. Thus,the belt 62 is pulled. The movable gear, which including the upper andlower movable pulleys 65 and the H-shaped frame 66, is lowered. Thus,the sections of the rope 20 are pulled. Hence, the lower rail 15 and theslats 11 are lifted, one after another.

Referring to FIG. 9, the button 85 is pushed so that the lock 81 ispivoted to the releasing position against the compression spring 84. Asthe lock 81 is in the releasing position, the edge of the aperture 83 isnot abutted against the rod 44 so that the grip 70 can be lowered alongthe rod 44.

Referring to FIG. 10, there is shown a blind in accordance with a secondembodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is like thefirst embodiment except including a cap 90 attached to a lower end ofthe second tube 50. The cap 90 includes an aperture 91 through which therod 44 is inserted. Thus, the rod 44 is restrained by the cap 90 so thatis cannot be pivoted in the tube set 40.

Referring to FIG. 11, there is shown a blind in accordance with a thirdembodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is like thefirst embodiment except two things. Firstly, the button 85 is saved. Thefirst section 82 of the lock 81 is elongated and inserted through theslot 72 so that it can be pushed like a button.

The present invention has been described via the detailed illustrationof the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations fromthe embodiments without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of thepresent invention defined in the claims.

1. A blind assembly including a head box; an axle located in the headbox; a lift lock located in the head box; a blind including: a bottomrail; and at least one rope inserted through the lift lock and tied tothe bottom rail at an end; a tube set connected to the head box; a rodinserted in the tube set; and an effort-saving unit for connecting therope to the rod so that the bottom rail is lifted as the rod is pulled.2. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the tube setincludes a first tube connected to the head box and a second tubeconnected to the first tube, wherein the rod extends beyond the secondtube.
 3. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein theeffort-saving unit is located in the second tube.
 4. The blind assemblyin accordance with claim 3, further including a cap fit in an end of thesecond tube and formed with an aperture through which the rod isinserted, thus avoid pivoting of the rod in the second tube.
 5. Theblind assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein the second tubeincludes a first shell and a second shell joined to the first shell sothat the effort-saving unit is located in the second tube.
 6. The blindassembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein the first shell includestwo ribs formed on an external side, wherein the second shell includestwo grooves defined in an internal side for receiving the ribs, thusjoining together the first and second shells.
 7. The blind assembly inaccordance with claim 5, wherein each of the first and second shellsincludes a hook formed thereon, wherein the first tube includes twoslots defined therein for receiving the hooks of the first and secondshells, thus joining together the first and second tubes.
 8. The blindassembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein each of the first andsecond shells includes a lip formed thereon, wherein the lips of thefirst and second shells together form an annular structure for easyinsertion into the first tube.
 9. The blind assembly in accordance withclaim 5, wherein the effort-saving unit includes: a frame movablylocated in the second tube; upper and lower movable pulleys supported onthe frame; and a belt sequentially wound on the lower movable pulley,and tied to the second tube at an end and tied to the rod at anotherend; wherein the rope is wound on the upper movable pulley and tied tothe head box at another end.
 10. The blind assembly in accordance withclaim 9, wherein the effort-saving unit includes a stationary pulleysecured to the second tube, wherein the belt is further wound on thestationary pulley.
 11. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 10,wherein the effort-saving unit includes another stationary pulleysecured to the second tube, wherein the belt is sequentially wound onthe stationary pulleys and the lower movable pulley.
 12. The blindassembly in accordance with claim 10, wherein the second shell includesa pin formed thereon for supporting the stationary pulley.
 13. The blindassembly in accordance with claim 12, further including a restrainingelement located against the stationary pulley, wherein the second shellincludes two hooks formed thereon for hooking the restraining element.14. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 1, further including: agrip provided around the rod; and a lock unit movable between a lockingposition for locking the grip to the rod and a releasing position forallowing movement of the grip along the rod.
 15. The blind assembly inaccordance with claim 14, wherein the lock unit includes: a buttonprovided on the grip; and a lock including a first section pivotallyconnected to the grip and a second section abutted against the button sothat the lock is moved to the releasing position from the lockingposition as the button is pushed.
 16. The blind assembly in accordancewith claim 15, wherein the first section of the lock includes anaperture through which the rod is inserted, wherein the edge of theaperture is abutted against the rod when the lock is in the lockingposition.
 17. The blind assembly in accordance with claim 15, whereinlock unit includes a compression spring compressed between the firstsection of the lock and an internal portion of the grip so that the lockis biased toward the locking position by the compressed spring.
 18. Theblind assembly in accordance with claim 14, wherein the lock unitincludes a lock including a first section pivotally connected to thegrip and a second section inserted through the grip so that the lock ismoved to the releasing position from the locking position as the secondsection of the lock is pushed.
 19. The blind assembly in accordance withclaim 18, wherein the first section of the lock includes an aperturethrough which the rod is inserted, wherein the edge of the aperture isabutted against the rod when the lock is in the locking position. 20.The blind assembly in accordance with claim 18, wherein lock unitincludes a compression spring compressed between the first section ofthe lock and an internal portion of the grip so that the lock is biasedtoward the locking position by the compressed spring.